True to his native Ireland, my Pop-Pop always knew had to tell a great story – anytime and anywhere. And I’m not just talking about the traditional folklore of leprechauns, faeries, changelings, and Finn MacCool. He told stories of how common, everyday people overcame adversity with superhuman physical strength, street-smarts, and tough-mindedness. Anyone who listened to these stories felt like they can accomplish anything in life no matter the difficulty ahead. As he said at the end of every story, “Always look ahead to your own pot of gold. It’s always within reach.”
Everyone loves a good story. But, what is it about these stories that spark such memories and inspiration?
The answer is simple: Our brains are wired for storytelling
According to Psychology Today, imagined experiences are processed in the human brain as though they are real experiences. By engaging our imaginations, we step out of our own shoes to see differently and increase our empathy for others – encouraging innovation, self-discovery, and change.
However, this is not the case with the bulk of advertising today. Actually, it is very much the opposite. In Winning the Story Wars, Jonah Sachs observes that the millions of marketing messages we receive over our lifetime tell us we’re old, inadequate, unhappy, unsafe, unattractive, and fat. And the magic solution to any of these problems? Surprise! It’s the message sponsor’s product…
3 Simple Steps To Engaging Consumers Through The Art Of Storytelling
